Finding Strength Within: David's Journey of Spiritual Independence
1 Sam 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
David showed spiritual maturity by simply encouraging himself in the Lord! The sooner we learn to do the same, the better off we’ll be. There are two types of people; those who need compliments to survive, and those who survive without them! This brings up a question; do you serve God to please others around you, or to please God Himself? Many of us who have been trained to serve the Lord have done so under the care of spiritual advisors and mentors; it is therefore a temptation to become carbon copies of our mentors in an effort to gain their approval and acceptance. Therefore, our idea of “success” comes with ease for the constant voice of cheering and coaching which comes from those who trained us. However, what about when we are weaned from their care? What will happen to us when God places us in a battle all our own, where we are the leader, and there’s no one there to comfort us, to cheer us on, or to encourage us?
We must learn to be as David, a man capable of drawing from that well of living waters within! What becomes particularly challenging is when God will have you to do something completely different than what you were trained to do. This is difficult because you were trained by people who approve of your efforts so long as you did it the way they did it; then, when the Lord shows you something He didn’t show them, or leads you somewhere He didn’t lead them, all of a sudden those who once were your advisors are now your enemies! Those whom you were trained to please are now the ones who bring you the most opposition. This is what changed Saul from David’s friend to his chief foe! Notice here that David (vs. 8) did not inquire of Saul (once his leader and his king), but of the Lord! Why would he ask Saul what to do? After all, Saul was after his life because of jealousy! I assure you that David had great respect for Saul and his anointed position as king (1 Sam 24:6). David simply learned that God was taking him to a place that Saul could not go, and therefore became reliant upon God alone for his encouragement. We’d do well to do the same!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
David showed spiritual maturity by simply encouraging himself in the Lord! The sooner we learn to do the same, the better off we’ll be. There are two types of people; those who need compliments to survive, and those who survive without them! This brings up a question; do you serve God to please others around you, or to please God Himself? Many of us who have been trained to serve the Lord have done so under the care of spiritual advisors and mentors; it is therefore a temptation to become carbon copies of our mentors in an effort to gain their approval and acceptance. Therefore, our idea of “success” comes with ease for the constant voice of cheering and coaching which comes from those who trained us. However, what about when we are weaned from their care? What will happen to us when God places us in a battle all our own, where we are the leader, and there’s no one there to comfort us, to cheer us on, or to encourage us?
We must learn to be as David, a man capable of drawing from that well of living waters within! What becomes particularly challenging is when God will have you to do something completely different than what you were trained to do. This is difficult because you were trained by people who approve of your efforts so long as you did it the way they did it; then, when the Lord shows you something He didn’t show them, or leads you somewhere He didn’t lead them, all of a sudden those who once were your advisors are now your enemies! Those whom you were trained to please are now the ones who bring you the most opposition. This is what changed Saul from David’s friend to his chief foe! Notice here that David (vs. 8) did not inquire of Saul (once his leader and his king), but of the Lord! Why would he ask Saul what to do? After all, Saul was after his life because of jealousy! I assure you that David had great respect for Saul and his anointed position as king (1 Sam 24:6). David simply learned that God was taking him to a place that Saul could not go, and therefore became reliant upon God alone for his encouragement. We’d do well to do the same!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill